A shame there wasn’t slightly more information in the daily briefing today, I guess we will just have to wait for the details as the emerge this week. Schools Week are saying the scheme will cover those with social workers, care leavers (although today’s Downing Street briefing said that Councils have been asked to make …
Continue reading "What the laptops scheme might cost"We all have responsibility for keeping data secure; be that when we email it, print it out, share information verbally with colleagues or when we save it to portable storage devices. Click on the link below for a short, helpful presentation I created to remind your team of the ways we can keep data secure.
Continue reading "Free presentation about data security"
Ethical Challenges when allocating resources [Notes of a Keynote Address to the Schools North East School Business Management Conference at St James’ Park, Newcastle on 13.06.19] Good afternoon. I’m delighted to be here with you although I am suffering somewhat, having had tooth extraction last week. I am still on painkillers so, somewhat unusually for …
Continue reading "How do you tell right from wrong?"
Printer ratios – a straw poll by @midlandsSBM This list started off as a quick poll on Twitter. It’s grown too long to capture in a screen shot so I’ve moved the results to my blog. Hayley Dunn (ASCL’s Business Leadership Specialist) and I, as ISBL’s Chair, both feel this subject is something it would …
Continue reading "How many printers per person do you have at your school?"
I recently heard something which reminded me of Douglas Rushkoff’s 2011 warning “You are Facebook’s product, not customer” It shocked me into realising just how easily I have accepted the daily drip feed of news, fake news, even fatuous news that arrives via my PC, smartphone and tablet. Whilst I pride myself in being able to …
Continue reading "I am tired of being someone else’s product"
The summer is over and darker nights are here, bringing with them the usual range of TV shows where celebrities and wannabes hone their aspiring talents in dancing, singing or even business skills for our entertainment. Enjoyable though these shows are, I am more interested in the year-round activity of encouraging and supporting talented people …
Continue reading "National talent management strategy for school business professionals"
The oft repeated leadership adage is that good leaders appoint people who are better than themselves and then get out of their way. It is something I have tried to do in every leadership position I have had; surround myself with people who are really, really good at doing their thing and letting them do …
Continue reading "“appoint people who are better than you and then get out of their way.”"IN the last 24 hours, twitter has been alive with head-in-hands memes and GIFs of people rolling their eyes. Why? Because the DfE have confirmed their intention to spend a relatively small amount of money deploying a growing group of specialist advisors into schools facing financial difficulty. A number of leading commentators have suggested that …
Continue reading "Frustrated by some social media comments about SRMAs"By now you may have heard that I have taken on the role of Chair of the Institute of School Business Leadership. For the next 12 months, I will be steering the work of the board and working to build on the reputation ISBL enjoys with our partners, stakeholders and the wider sector. I am …
Continue reading "A New Role…"
I attended my first researchED event yesterday when ResearchED Brum 2018 took place at Dame Elizabeth Cadbury School. It was the first time the movement/community, for that is how it styles itself, had come to Birmingham and it provided the perfect opportunity to put a toe in the water. I wasn’t sure how welcoming the …
Continue reading "The SBL who attended ResearchED Brum 2018"